Quote from: downtothecore on Today at 11:51:38 AMThe perception particularly among Armagh Folk on the run up to this game was that there a high gulf on class between the 2 teams.I think most people on the Down forum agreed. When the game was there to be won Armagh's subs were able to make the difference, scoring each of their sides last 3 points - there's a clear gulf between the depth of both squads.
Quote from: downtothecore on Today at 11:51:38 AMThat was not apparent yesterday. Yes we lost but I am not worried how about it. We have closed the gap in laverys 2 year spell and I think this group has more potential to develop into winners in coming years. It's taken mc geeney close to 10 years and yesterday showed they have a bit to do yet.Down are certainly on an upward trajectory, which was probably to be expected. Laverty took over the team when they were at a very low ebb and the only way was up. I don't think using Down's progress as a tool to somehow talk down Armagh makes much sense however - they won the match, and it's the first time in quite a while they've come out on the right side of an attritional type of match. They'll have got a lot more out of yesterday's game than last years Ulster semi final. Hopefully, it can give them a bit of belief that they can win games going forward without playing well.
Quote from: downtothecore on Today at 11:51:38 AMThey may snatch an ulster but certainly not an All Ireland.I don't think anybody is expecting Armagh to win the All Ireland, and I expect them to be underdogs in the Ulster final too, regardless of the opposition.
Quote from: Armagh18 on Today at 11:24:37 AMWe were pathetic. Play like that against Donegal and it be 10 point hammering. I'd say Duffy will be in from the start the next day. Murnin, Soupy Turbo and others anonymous.
Quote from: Rossfan on April 27, 2024, 10:37:38 PMAh your being "small minded and divisive"
Quote from: downtothecore on April 27, 2024, 09:55:11 PMArmagh folk think they are top class team. As you seen today they are certainly not. We should not fear them anymore and a similar plan with a few tweaks in attack will beat them....I'd say the vast majority of Armagh fans certainly don't think our team are 'top class'. They're a decent side though and probably considered to be among the second rung of teams, below Dublin, Kerry, Derry etc, but similar to Galway, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon etc.
Quote from: ardtole on Today at 09:53:02 AMI've been going to Down matches since the 80s and yesterday was nothing short of dreadful.
We were 2 points up with approx 15 mins to go v Armagh in an Ulster semi final and my main concern was, I hope this doesn't go to extra time.
If playing like that is what it takes to be competitive, it's not a price worth paying as far as I'm concerned, and judging by the size of the crowd, I'm not alone. Would there have been 2000 Down supporters in Clones yesterday?
I recognise that plenty will take positives from yesterday's performance and to a degree, I can see where they are coming from. Laverty done nothing wrong yesterday, he broke no rules as such but mother of God, the powers that be must take action sooner rather than later because as a spectacle that game yesterday is unacceptable.
And I don't think I'm looking through rose tinted glasses about games from previous era's, plenty of them were poor too. I know Jarlath Burns has put together an impressive looking task force to deal with the predicament football finds itself in, and I'm sure they can use yesterday's game as an indicator of what drastic measures are needed to cure our game.
Down are not alone either, a lot of counties employ similar tactics, at times we have played excellently under Laverty, Cavan away last year in the Tailtain cup was a great performance. But I really do hope there are rule changes made to avoid what happened yesterday repeated. And even if we won yesterday, I'm sure I would be saying the same thing.